Patong bar owner faces charges for striking security guard

PHUKET: A bar owner in Patong – who has been publicly lambasted for owning and driving a Mercedes-Benz car – has surrendered himself to police for striking a security guard amid a heated argument at the exit of Soi Paradise onto Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd earlier this week.

The incident caused an outrage online as video footage of the argument went viral on social media as it showed the bar owner, Chana Tammawichai, 37, striking security guard Jessada Tongeait, 27, in the face and threatening the guard with what appeared to be a handgun.

Chana presented himself at Patong Police Station on Monday (Jan 15), just hours after the altercation.

Chana also accompanied a team of officers led by Patong Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Pongpan Siriphattharanukul and Maj Korapon Leangboonjinda to his unaddressed counter bar at the OTOP Market further south on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd.

At the bar officers seized one 11mm semi-automatic handgun, for which Chana has a permit for, as well as seven 11mm bullets, a gun magazine and a BB gun with a magazine.

“I was notified by the Patong Police about this incident. A security guard asked for a parking card from a driver as normal. The driver was angry and complained to the security guard,” Gen Teeraphol told The Phuket News yesterday (Jan 16).

“At the same time, the driver pulled the security guard’s collar and smacked him. The driver also pulled out a gun to threaten. After the incident, police went to the scene and checked CCTV footage (of the altercation).” he added.

“Mr Chana told police that he used a BB gun to threaten the security guard. He also has a 9mm handgun which he keeps at the bar beer.

“I asked Patong Police to check if he (Chana) has a license to carry a gun. I also asked Patong Police to check whether the bar beer is a registered business. If guns were kept at a bar that is operated as a registered business, that will be breaking the law.

“The security guard is now back home after being treated for his injury. We have to receive a medical report before we can charged him (Chana) with causing bodily harm.” Gen Teeraphol explained.

In his defence, Chana at Patong Police Station said, “I was angry that I pulled his collar. He (Mr Jessada) was inside a security guard box and I was outside the box.

“When I pulled his collar he tried to hit me, but I avoided it and hit him back. The video clip might not have recorded that.

“After that I opened the back door of the guard box and pulled the guard out to ask why he did not open the barrier. I tried to push the guard into my car so we could go to the police station together,” Chana added.

“I admitted that I was wrong. I do not want to use any violence. After the incident I came to the police to face charges against me, but the security guard did not come.

“I wanted to say sorry for what I had done. I am ready to pay for damages. I admitted that I started the fight first. He smacked me after I pulled his collar as he might have wanted to protect himself. I wanted to talk at the police station because at that time was early morning and I also have a dog with me,” Mr Chana explained.

“I pulled out a BB gun just to threaten him because there were many security guards there. I admit that I lost my patience because I had worked long hours and not had enough sleep.

“I also had been drinking, so I lost control of temper,” Mr Chana admitted.

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I guess these are the same police that have been, by their own department, not to know the traffic laws... I suspect many don't know the firearms laws.

Jor12| 19 January 2018 - 11:16:35

waxes lyrically? - meaning expresses emotions in an imaginative manner? No emotion, just basic knowledge and common sense correcting blatant errors. Anything seems to go on PN, most of which wrong, disparaging, slanderous and defamatory. It's probably culled as being irrelevant.

Jor12| 18 January 2018 - 22:10:19

It is not correct to say the law prohibits the carriage of firearms. Check the Act (not Google) to find out when it is permissible, thus one can see the reasons why it is lawful. Police don't need to read it, because they are taught it and enforce it, it's the commentators that need to read it, educate themselves thus enabling comment with some authority.

CaptainJack69| 18 January 2018 - 14:03:11

PN: It's bad enough you are limiting the number of characters we are allowed in our comments, but now you're not even showing all the characters we ARE allowed?
I'm using Chrome on Windows 10 and the last 15 characters or so of everyone's comments are clipped.
Sort it out... ... ...

CaptainJack69| 18 January 2018 - 13:59:25

Maybe the Thai police should Google THAI gun law. They'd learn that there are NO circumstances in which a person can carry a gun around with them (no 'permit to carry'). Also threatening someone (even with a toy) is assault and results in you loosing any license you may have.
Oh, and operating a business that ISN'T registered? Also illegal. As is drink driving.
Driving a Benz...

Kurt| 18 January 2018 - 11:11:27

Started a fight, has two guns in the bar ( for what?), did drink, lost temper, driving a car after drinking.
And this man has a permit for guns?
Waiting for the medical report of the security guard.
How about a mental medical check up of that Bar beer man?
The photo shows me a man who should not be in position of a semi automatic weapon or any weapon.
He already has a dog to protect him.

crispy| 17 January 2018 - 18:57:07

Doesnt like violence ? how many weapons did he have threatening the security guard holding a weapon pffffft get real lucky the gaurd didnt have a weapon this guy might be dead .

DeKaaskopp| 17 January 2018 - 16:53:42

"who has been publicly lambasted for owning and driving a Mercedes Benz".Where is the connection with the previous paragraph and the rest of the article?

malczx7r| 17 January 2018 - 16:36:09

"I also had been drinking" no surprise there then, drinking and driving, maybe the police will charge him with that too seeing as he has admitted to it.